Monday, December 27, 2004

Elderly to get "consumer choice" in care

Apparently, Blair is drawing up plans to make the care sector more "market oriented". Personally, I feel this is a step in the wrong direction. Care should be available for all who need it, and should not be market driven.

The No 10 strategy unit is drawing up alternate blueprints that would allow those among the elderly who want to exercise choice to do so. The report is unlikely to be ready by election day, but the scheme will feature in Labour's manifesto. After news of the initiative was leaked yesterday, Alan Milburn, Mr Blair's election strategist, was quick to reassure MPs that it was not about privatisation of social services or a change in the way they were funded by the taxpayer.

Although the spin doctors will attempt to tell us all that this isn't privatisation, it is.